Medical Procurement InformationProfessional Information Service Platform in the Field of Medical Device Procurement!【Major Announcement on May 2】Professor Hong Bo's team from Tsinghua University School of Medicine, in collaboration with Professor Zhao Guoguang's team from Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, announcedWorld's First Successful Clinical Application of Wireless Minimally Invasive Brain-Computer Interface (NEO System) in Epidural Space! Mr. Lao Yang (pseudonym), a 61-year-old patient with high-level paraplegia, not only achievedSelf-feeding, drinking, and dressingSuch basic self-care tasks can now be performed through sheer willpower.Playing the electronic keyboard, playing Go with others, Hand Grip Accuracy Breakthrough90%, creating a miracle in the history of medical rehabilitation.
1. Seventeen Years of "Frozen" Life, Reborn Thanks to a "Coin"
In 2006, a devastating car accident completely severed Old Yang's cervical spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed below the neck. For 17 years, he relied on his family for eating, dressing, and toileting, his life confined to a small bed and a wheelchair.October 24, 2023, was a life-changing day for Old Yang. The Tsinghua-Xuanwu joint team performedWorld's First Epidural Wireless Minimally Invasive Brain-Computer Interface Implant Surgery—— The doctor grinds a coin-sized groove on the skull corresponding to the left brain motor cortex, makes a tiny incision of 2-3 centimeters, and precisely attaches an ultra-thin flexible electrode array to the outer dura mater. The entire process takes only 1.5 hours with minimal trauma.More than two years of rehabilitation training after the surgery, miracles kept happening:Early 2024: Lao Yang Successfully Uses "Mind Control" to Operate Robotic Arm for Drinking
Mid-2025: Achieve autonomous grasping and feeding, with a significant improvement in self-care abilities.
May 2026: Capable of playing tunes such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Jasmine Flower" fluently, playing Go with doctors, with precise hand movements reachingOver 90%
"Now I can eat and drink by myself, and I can also play musical instruments and chess. I feel like I've been given a new life!" Old Yang said excitedly, his eyes shining with a long-lost light.
2. NEO System: Hardcore Technology Unveiled — Why Is It a World-First Innovation?
This product namedNEO（Neural Electronic Opportunity）The brain-computer interface system, a result of over 20 years of research by the Tsinghua University team in collaboration with Neuracle, wasApproved for marketing in China by the National Medical Products Administration on March 13, 2026, becomingWorld's First Invasive Brain-Computer Interface Class III Medical Device, marking China's leap from follower to leader in this field.1. Semi-invasive Design: The Perfect Balance of Safety and Signal Quality
Epidural Implantation: The electrode is placed outside the dura mater (the protective membrane between the skull and the cerebral cortex),Without Direct Contact with Brain Tissue, minimal trauma, low risk of rejection, and an infection rate close to zero
Coin-sized: The in-body processor is only as large as a one-yuan coin, implanted into the skull, leaving almost no visible trace.
Minimally Invasive Advantages: Surgical incision of 2-3 centimeters, procedure time approximately 1.5 hours, discharge possible after 3 days post-operation, significantly reducing patient suffering and medical costs.
2. Wireless "Black Technology": Free from Cable Constraints, Achieving Lifetime Use
Wireless Power Supply + Wireless Communication: Featuring an "Integrated Signal and Power" design, the external device wirelessly powers the internal device through the scalp while receiving brain signals, completely eliminating traditional cables and internal batteries.
Low Latency, High Precision: Signal response delay is less than100 milliseconds, decoding accuracy exceeds95%, allowing patients' thoughts to be "real-time" converted into actions
Zero secondary surgery risk: No need to replace the battery, avoiding repeated surgeries, providing patients with a long-term and reliable solution.
3. Full-chain Localization in China: Core Technologies Are Self-controlled
From software algorithms, core chips to key raw materials,NEO System Achieves 100% Localization in China, breaking the foreign technology monopoly and laying the foundation for large-scale clinical applications and cost control.
3. Comparison with International Giants: The Unique Advantages of the Chinese Solution
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| Minimally invasive epidural procedure, no damage to brain tissue | Penetrating implant, requires puncturing the dura mater |
| Incision 2-3 cm, completed in 1.5 hours | Craniotomy, with significant trauma |
| Wireless Power Supply + Wireless Communication, No In-body Battery | Wired connection, batteries need to be replaced regularly. |
| Low risk of infection, minimal rejection response | High Risk of Brain Tissue Damage |
| Obtained China Class III Medical Device Certification in March 2026 | Still in the clinical trial stage |
4. Beyond "Mind Control": Entering a New Era of Clinical Brain-Computer Interfaces
The success of the NEO system not only gives new life to patients with spinal cord injuries like Old Yang, but also holds promise forAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Post-stroke Sequelae, EpilepsyBring hope to millions of patients with nervous system diseases.Professor Hong Bo from Tsinghua University stated: "The core value of the NEO system lies inAchieve Two-Way Communication Between the Brain and External Devices"In the future, we will further expand application scenarios, such as helping aphasic patients 'speak' through brain signals and enabling blind patients to 'see' the world through brain-computer interfaces."President Guoguang Zhao of Xuanwu Hospital emphasized: "This is a model of the intersection and innovation of neurosurgery and biomedical engineering in China, marking the formal entry of China's brain-computer interface technology into the clinical commercial stage, which will promote the entire industry to move towards standardized and large-scale development."
5. The Future is Here: The "Acceleration" of Brain-Computer Interfaces Made in China
With the approval and market launch of the NEO system, China's brain-computer interface industry is entering a golden period of development:Clinical Adoption Accelerates: Pilot programs currently underway at 12 tertiary hospitals across China, with an expected coverage of 50 medical institutions by the end of 2026.
Indications Expansion: Clinical trials for ALS, severe depression, and other diseases are currently underway.
Continuously Reducing Costs: Mass Production in China Will Significantly Lower Equipment Prices, Benefiting More Patients
Conclusion: From the laboratory to the bedside, from "impossible" to "I can do it," the Tsinghua-Xuanwu team has opened a new chapter in life for paralyzed patients through technological innovation. This coin-sized brain-computer interface is not only a technological breakthrough but also a safeguard for human dignity. Let us look forward to a future where more "Old Yangs" can embrace life once again with the help of brain-computer interface technology!
